One of the best parts of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is the reward you obtain after Chapter six, the opportunity to obtain a Skell License. After completing the required Missions, you will be gifted the best gameplay mechanic in the ability to pilot a Skell.
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Skells completely change how you explore Mira and make the once-threatening giant Tyrunts feel like tiny insignificant beings to your massive mech. With their own set of arts and abilities and the Overdrive mechanic, Skells bring an extra layer of complexity to combat that makes for an invaluable party member, but they are quite an investment, so it’s important to know which are worth picking up.
Each Skell is heavily customizable and upgradable and so you may find different Skells work better in different situations. Note as well that the Skells are ranked by their power after being built, with a few exceptions.
9
Hraesvelg
The New Skell On The Block
This brand-new Skell for Definitive Edition has some special features. The Hraesvelg can be unlocked by completing the New Skell On The Block Affinity Quest, which unlocks after getting your Skell License. Liesel will automatically have a free level 20 Hraesvelg equipped to her, but you can move it to any party member you want.
Unfortunately, the Hraesvelg isn’t too great in combat, but it makes up for it by being amazing for exploration and a beautiful sight to behold. Like all Skells, it cannot fly until you get the Flight Module after Chapter Nine upon clearing A Girl’s Wings, but unlike other Skells, the Hraesvelg has an exclusive jet flight mode and cockpit view that make it the best Skell for traversal.
For most of these Skells, we have listed the best models in each series, which are mostly unlocked after Chapter 12, but if you do not have access to the ones we mention, the lower-level versions with a similar name will have alike builds and worth.
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Verus Cain
The Lightweight Skell For Damage
The lightweight classed Skell are often the worst of all the frame types because of their low HP, small fuel tank and weak defenses that cannot be improved much. The Verus Cain, however, is able to do alot more than any other light model, almost feeling more like a medium-weight model with massive melee damage, despite its small fuel tank.
Verus Cain comes with the Overdrive Hagane, which gives increased melee damage while it heals its appendages and reflects all physical damage it receives, which allows it to counter its foes, despite the small health pool. Pair all this with its high evasion, a powerful starting melee kit as well as a fast, easy-to-control vehicle form, and it is the recipe for a Skell that won’t disappoint.
7
Inferno Skydon
Defensive Maneuvers
The medium-weight Inferno Skydon is a burning flame of power in its defensive powers and flexibility. This Skell has high defenses that compliment its ability to activate the Hibana Overdrive in order to heal its appendages and reflect any damage received back to enemies while it lasts.
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Sadly, all this defense comes at the cost of mobility as if you enjoy speeding around Mira, this is definitely not the Skell for you. With strength that rivals the best of the best alongside unbreakable defenses, the Inferno Skydon can pack a meaty punch with both melee and ranged weapons depending on what you prefer, all the while not burning a hole through your resources.
6
Formula Zero
Racing Around Mira
This fast Skell is the best lightweight one around, and makes for an excellent exploration Skell as well as one that is also decent in combat. Formula Zero is a level 60 Skell that has a focus on speed and evasion with quick arts and some of the best accuracy of any Skell, all combined with fast movement in all forms that will leave your foes in the dust.
Being a lightweight Skell means it has great mobility and speed and is one of the fastest Skells. The Overdrive it has, Jinrai also focuses on speed by decreasing art cooldowns while boosting critical hit rate and evasion. The speedy nature of this Skell is clearly a reference to Formula One, the international racing tournament, and it is a blast to zoom around Mira like Lewis Hamilton.
5
US0830 Dozer
High Risk, High Rewards
Originally a DLC Skell, this level 30 heavyweight Skell packs a punch and even has a unique Overdrive effect that is only shared with the other DLC Skells. The US0830 Dozer can be unlocked and created after clearing the Affinity Mission for Boze called Boze’s Ignorance after completing Chapter nine.
The Overdrive is where things get interesting. It is called Kamikaze and, like the name suggests, it is a risky play. Upon activation of Overdrive, you will gain increased damage for all attacks, alongside boosted evasion and accuracy, and a damage reflector. All of these amazing benefits come at the tiny drawback of losing 50 percent of the Skell’s total HP when Overdrive ends. This can be brutal if not managed correctly and can cost you tons of resources in repairs, but for skilled players this risk is well worth the reward.
4
Ares 90
Power Only Costs A Mere Price
If you need a base Skell that doesn’t need customizing and enhancing to be a menace of a threat, look no further than the enhanced Ares 70, the Ares 90. This medium-weight Skell is one of the few that cannot equip any weapons or gear and instead comes prebuilt with strong stats and abilities that make it a great option for those who don’t want to grind.
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This does, however, make it one of the most expensive Skells in the game, costing a whopping 100,000 Miranium on top of some of the rarest drops around. It is great at doing loads of damage but can be easily out-classed by any properly built level 60 Skell. These Skells can take hours of grinding to get, so if you want something easy to instantly get worth out of the Ares 90 gives you what you want.
There is a new, stronger Ares Skell named the Ares Prime. However, it is only obtained in Chapter 13 and is only usable by one party member until you beat the chapter. Because of this, we chose to include the Ares 90 instead.
3
Mastema White Reaper
Want To Hit The Damage Cap?
One of the coolest-looking Skells, the Mastema White Reaper is a level 60 master of ranged weapons that can deal massive damage in just a single attack. This heavy Skell has a focus on ranged attacks and can take damage quite well despite this, thanks to its armor, and this is all amplified by its Overdrive Gekitetsu, which increases all of its best stats during the duration.
With a strong Zenith Cannon equipped and the right build that focuses on opening damage increases, this Skell can even one-shot some of the highest-level Tyrunts in the game and even hit the damage cap thanks to its ridiculous ranged damage. Skells often excel better at ranged combat and, since that is what Masterma is best at, it is a valuable Skell to own and invest in.
2
Amdusias Hades
A Blade Able To Cut Through Anything
This heavy Skell is great for those who prefer getting their Skell hands dirty and fighting enemies face to face with strong melee attacks. The Amdusias Hades has a super-cool design that compliments its raw strength. This Skell is excellent due to it having a way to get around one of the weaknesses of the heavy Skells by giving you an on-field way to refill your fuel tank.
The main focus of the Amdusias is the high melee attack power, which is the highest of nearly every Skell in its base form. Combine this with good defenses and an Overdrive that not only increases both melee damage and appendage damage but also siphons Skell Fuel when melee attacks connect, and it can be lethal if built correctly. This siphon power can be a great way to fill up this heavy Skell for free if you are in debt after purchasing it.
1
Lailah Queen
The Ruler Of Skells
After getting access to every Skell after beating Chapter 12, there is one that will stick out as the best, no matter how you build it. The Lailah Queen is the strongest of the Lailah series and boasts a medium-weight Skell that can tank nearly any amount of damage better than most heavy-weight ones can.
With its signature Overdrive module, Nagi, the Laiah Queen becomes near unkillable, and it can solo even the toughest enemies with ease. This Overdrive effect causes a lot of instant regeneration, so much so that very little will be able to out damage it, unless it is one hit killing you or has Thremal Reflection which can be easily countered. It also gains immunity to debuffs while in Overdrive, which gives it even more defensive power and, since you can easily chain Overdrive, this Skell will be practically unstoppable.
- Released
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March 20, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen // Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Monolith Soft
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
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March 20, 2025
- Number of Players
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1 (Single-Player), 1-32 (Multiplayer)